Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.
Author William Landay has been described by some as a worthy successor to John Grisham. While Defending Jacob has many elements of the legal mystery/thriller, the novel also carries more than a hint of being a literary heir to Jodie Picoult, with its situational plot and in-depth examination of a family in crisis. Set in Newton, Mass., the story describes the agonizing meltdown of a family whose son, Jacob, is accused of the callous murder of a classmate and whose father, a prominent assistant district attorney there, is removed from the case and put on paid leave as the DA's office prepares to charge Jacob with homicide.
Defending Jacob poses numerous questions. When surveyed, the majority of members said they would have voted "Guilty" had they been on a jury deciding Jacob's guilt or innocence. Topics presented by the narrative include the theory of a "murder gene" which argues there is a genetic cause for those who become violent and/or kill other people. Much of the discussion centered on the arguments surrounding the nature vs. nurture debate. Also, most members were conflicted as to how they would have responded as parents to Jacob's childhood history of social problems and whether or not they would have sought help for Jacob despite the father's insistence there was no reason to be concerned. Everyone agreed the final chapter produced a dramatic conclusion to the events without an absolutely definitive verdict for readers.
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